Tom's Perspective-

Everett raised up a hand, silencing Tom.

"No more Tom. You can live but you are no longer allowed in the dungeon. In fact, I want you to work with Trissa. I want to keep a close eye on you."

Tom, looking very uncomfortable, followed Trissa out to go find the new guard, Sir Ortiz.

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

Tom and Trissa walked out, and he felt miserable.

"Where are we going?"

Trissa sighed, "Sir Ortiz. The meanest guard I know. You're probably going to be working with me now and Ortiz is going to be in the dungeon. He's very strict. It's going to be hard to help them out now. Gem should've left when she could."

Tom nodded and when he made eye contact with Sir Ortiz, he got nervous.

Ortiz had an expression that made you know, he hated everyone and everything.

Tom then knew that Gem probably wouldn't see the light of day anytime.

She probably won't be able to see her brother and friends again unless they come here.

Tom followed Trissa and Ortiz back to the dungeon.

He then shook his head.

No. Her friends would get locked up as well.

He sighed.

I guess there's no good option.

Later-

"Trissa, I want you and Tom to go put these away." Everett ordered, showing them up to a room.

The room was very small, barely bigger than a closet. There were no windows and the walls looked to be very strong. Made of a strong stone that would be very hard to break.

There was an old table and an empty bookshelf.

Trissa and Tom walked into the room and set Gem's books on the shelf.

They then set down her bag.

Everett watched closely as Tom took Gem's spare potions and stashed them away in the cabinet under the bookshelf.

When Tom finished, Everett left and came back with a locked box.

"Will you two go fetch 'them'. Tell them I need them to protect this room day and night."
Everett said, keeping the locked box close to him.

Trissa and Tom bowed and then left.

As they walked outside to go inform 'them' about their new post, Tom started to get nervous.

"Er- is... are 'they' strict?"

Trissa nodded, looking grim, "Deranged is what they are. Seem like they've been up since 5 am with no coffee or anything. If you get on their bad side, there's no going back; and trust me, you can get on their bad side very, very quickly."

"Are... are you on their- "

Trissa shook her head, "But I've seen people mess with them and run. And trust me, some part of them always comes back. They may be forgotten and, in the ground, but they get found."

Tom gulped and they came to a stop.

"Just to be safe, you should let me do the talking. I'm not great friends with them, but I'm not on their bad side either."

Trissa opened the door and she and Tom walked into a room where there were four things. A window, a door, a woman was pacing in front of the door, and a dog who was following the woman.

The dog and the woman both looked terrifying. They both had matching red scars and the same deranged look Trissa was talking about.

The woman had a red cloak that flapped around at her feet as she walked. There was an axe in her right hand, and she had brown hair that was a bit lower than her shoulders.

She had on a white shirt, denim shorts, and red shoes.

The woman and dog suddenly came to a halt, but they didn't turn to face the new visitors.

Tom was about to wave but Trissa quickly kicked his foot to stop him.

His eyes started watering, but he didn't say anything.

"Hello Pearl." Trissa bowed.

"Well, well, well," An Australian voice said, "What brings you here? Come to pick a fight?"

Trissa stood back up and folded her hands together.

Her face was stern, and Tom got nervous. He had never seen Trissa like this.

"A fight is not what you will get." Trissa said simply, "We are here on the kings' orders."

The lady laughed, "Thought I smelled someone new!"

She turned and looked at Tom, her axe pointing right at his heart.

Her dog then ran up and sniffed Tom.

It was a lot bigger than it appeared to be.

Tom's palms started sweating as the dog walked around him.

After what seemed like forever, the dog then looked at Pearl and nodded.

"Thanks Tilly." Pearl said and Tilly walked over to get pet by her owner.

For the first time since their conversation had started, Tom saw a smile, not a deranged or evil one, but a genuine smile on Pearl's face when petting Tilly.

"What are the orders?" Pearl asked, standing back up with a stern look.

"He needs you to guard- "

"Guard?! What does he think I've been doing?! I need to get back out there!" Pearl motioned to the window.

"Yes, but last time you were on a mission you almost died. You are the king's best guard." Tissa said calmly.

Pearl scoffed, "I almost died because the man blew himself up near me since I've been chasing him."

"If I remember correctly, you ended up burying that man's body. And I do remember some tears were shed."

"Tears from being worked up! I had just murdered two, no, THREE people before him! And when I got to him, he blew himself up and almost murdered me and Tilly from how much TNT he used!"

Trissa sighed and shook her head, "The point is, we are here to show you to your new post."

Trissa bowed again and Pearl looked displeased.

Eventually, she sighed and followed Trissa and Tom.

"But who's going to be guarding the other room?" Pearl asked.

"This room is more important. I'm sure the king will hire someone else to guard your last post." Trissa said as she walked through the door Tom held open.

Tilly growled at him, and he yelped.

"Don't mind Tilly!" Pearl said to him, "Hey, weren't you the one guarding the dungeon? What're you doing up here?"

"Er- "

"The king thought it better to have Mr. Robins up here working with me and have Sir Ortiz guarding the prisoners instead."

Pearl growled the same way Tilly did a moment ago, "Never liked Ortiz. Cold as ice. Never shows emotions. Always seems to bring the worst out of people."

"Yes, wasn't he your old mentor?" Trissa asked.

Pearl looked hurt and shook her head, "Er- yes, he was. But he wasn't the only one who broke me and turned me into who I am. I was... heartbroken."

She looked down at her right-hand pointer finger as though something was there. (cough cough, double life reference)

She then smiled softly before they came to a stop.

"In here." Trissa said.

Pearl raised her hand towards Tom, and he flinched.

But to his surprise, Pearl just patted his back.

"You alright?" She asked, "Looked as though I was about to slap the life out of ya."

Tom chuckled lightly.

Pearl's grip on his shoulders suddenly tightened and her expression turned to be threatening, "But I will if you ever dare cross me." She said in a cold voice, making Tom shudder in fear.

"Well Tom, I hope to see you around. Trissa, make sure he doesn't get beat up, seems as though one good punch to the gut would finish him off." She then smiled and left with Tilly.

Not without Tilly giving Tom a small boop on the hand though.

"Huh." Trissa said as they walked away, "Looks like you seemed to have brought something out of them that I've never seen before."

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Alright I know Pearl doesn't use they/them pronouns in real life, but I thought it would be cool. I think it adds to the plot but let me know!